It's been a long four-year wait since Meshuggah has graced us with some new studio material (I'm not including 2000's compilation album 'Rare Trax'). But lo and behold, 'Nothing' has finally arrived. It has to be said that Meshuggah albums are not an easy listen, and even if their peculiar brand of metal is your thing, it takes time and quite a few listens to really grasp what they're trying to portray on any of their given albums. Having said that, the one instantly noticeable thing about 'Nothing' is the speed (Or lack of). The introduction of their custom made eight string guitars has obviously influenced the more groove and mood orientated sound scapes this time around. The solitary riff of 'Stengah' opens proceedings before the amazing percussion of Tomas Haake's drum kit kicks in. From here it's the unusual time changes that dominate most of Messugah's songs that comes into play. Things speed up a little with 'Perpetual Black Second? and 'Glints Collide', while 'Closed Eye Visual' brings to mind, while only slightly, the most abrasive music Ministry has yet to make. There's also a James Murphy sounding solo towards the end that is at odds with the music playing behind it. It sounds odd, but works just the same.

There is nothing that sounds quite like this album, pardon the pun. It seems like Meshuggah are in their own world and you are sucked into it from the first song and then relentlessly hypnotized by the repeating rhythms which bend, twist and build.

Why do people like this album so much? I mean, sure, it's got some gems, and the overall sound is cool, but so many of the tracks are just plain boring. Were it not for tracks like Rational Gaze and Straws Pulled at Random, I'd have to give this a much lower rating. Still a decent album, but one of Meshuggah's most boring.

About 4 years late but got to agree with Jaeryd. Had a day today revisiting Meshuggah after writing them off many years ago, and having some shifts in my opinions on different albums. This one does have some good stuff, but clearly Rational Gaze and Straws Pulled At Random are the standouts, and aside from a couple of other tracks on ehre (Nebulous comes to mind) I don't think it matches up to the likes of obZen or Chaosphere, it's a bit turgid